Chapter 131: Empress Dowager and Empress

Chapter 131: Empress Dowager and Empress

The Empress Dowager was once granted the title "Li," which was enough to show her remarkable beauty in her youth.

As someone who loved beauty, even as the years passed, the Empress Dowager continued to take meticulous care of herself. After living a life of luxury for many years, she still possessed a captivating beauty.

This Empress Dowager, who had successfully navigated the palace intrigues to the end, naturally had her own survival wisdom. Emperor Chengde, Zhao Xi, was her son, but he was also the emperor of the realm. An emperor's desire for control is always strong. If she, the Empress Dowager, stayed in the imperial palace, it would be inevitable that he would be constrained.

The Empress Dowager wanted to live a more relaxed life, so every year she would spend half of the year residing in Wutai Mountain.

In the outskirts of the capital, she also had a specially built large villa, where a Bodhisattva was enshrined. For the other half of the year when she returned to the capital, she would spend most of her time living in the villa.

All in all, her palace residence was mostly vacant throughout the year.

The Empress Dowager never meddled in affairs, and as she lived a comfortable life, she appeared even younger. On the rare occasions when she returned to the palace, Emperor Chengde, out of respect for his mother, gave her ample face.

The comfortably-living Empress Dowager looked more like Emperor Chengde's sister.

When the Empress Dowager saw Zhao Jiaze, she beckoned him.

As Zhao Jiaze stepped forward, the Empress Dowager's aged hands caressed his face, and she said to Emperor Chengde with a smile, "He really does look a bit like the Emperor. Why didn't we notice it back then?"

Concubine Chen couldn't help but chuckle, drawing everyone's attention to her.

Concubine Chen said, "The Crown Prince looks different today. Clearly, he has dressed up especially for his return to the palace. The Crown Prince is indeed thoughtful."

He Lanting deliberately noted that Zhao Jiaze had dressed to resemble the Emperor.

With her deliberate tone, everyone present understood.

Emperor Chengde also recalled this past incident, and his expression became slightly cold.

Zhao Jiaze said, "Perhaps it's because encountering joyous events lifts one's spirits. Your subject had always believed himself to be alone, with both parents passed away. I never thought I would meet Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, and my heart is filled with joy, which naturally shows on my face."

"Oh?" He Lanting said with a raised eyebrow, "Two years ago, the Crown Prince was the top scholar, which should have been a time of great satisfaction. I remember people say there are several great joys in life, one of which is the moment of achieving success in the imperial examination."

"In reply to your words, Your Highness, that was a joy born from the reward of years of study. But even in my joy, there was always a sense of loneliness. How sad it was that my parents were not there to know that their child had succeeded in the examination," Zhao Jiaze said with a look of filial admiration, first looking at the Emperor, then the Empress, and finally the Empress Dowager.

"Your subject never imagined having the chance to meet the Empress Dowager, and even more, that the Empress Dowager would have the chance to see her great-grandchild! This is truly a tremendous joy."

Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, "I was extremely joyful. Before I received the news, I heard the magpies chirping happily and knew there would be good news, but I didn't expect it to be about the Crown Prince being found."

"Today, not only did I meet the Crown Prince, but I also met the Imperial Grandson. I need to stay in the palace for a few more days; this is truly wonderful news. Tonight, I will speak with the late Emperor and ask him to watch over the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson."

The Empress Dowager's words gave Jian Yunyao a lot of face, causing her to relax with a pleased expression. If the Empress Dowager could adapt to the times, it would be perfect.

The Empress Dowager observed the Queen's expression with some amusement. For the past two years, she had favored Concubine He, because she knew her son truly loved the concubine and even considered making their child the Crown Prince. Therefore, she had shown this favored concubine extra respect.

Even after Concubine Yan Ji’s child was lost, the Empress Dowager still treated Concubine He favorably because she knew of the concubine's methods, and Concubine He had already begun planning to bring over a child.

However, ever since Zhao Jiaze appeared, the Empress Dowager immediately realized that the situation was no longer the same.

The Empress Dowager knew right away that the Queen's side was on the rise.

She was fully aware of the Jian family’s influence. Although the civil officials had undergone changes, many of them in the capital still had close ties with the Jian family. For Zhao Jiaze’s sake, the Jian patriarch had even returned from the border town. These officials would certainly show respect to the Jian family.

By ancestral law, Zhao Jiaze was the legitimate son of the central palace, and it was only natural for him to be the Crown Prince and inherit the throne.

As for the military faction, there was even less to say. All the generals of Great Qi revered Jian He.

Zhao Jiaze himself had his own opportunities. His teacher was Vice Minister of Revenue Pei Jin, and his foster uncle was Fu Bin, the Emperor’s former most trusted aide.

Zhao Jiaze had grasped all the opportunities. He himself was a zhuangyuan (top scholar) and had even fathered the first imperial grandson among his descendants.

If heaven’s will were not with Zhao Jiaze and the Queen’s side, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t believe it.

The Empress Dowager was indifferent to who the Crown Prince was, as long as it was her bloodline. Now that heaven’s will was with Zhao Jiaze, she would follow the will of heaven.

The Empress Dowager saw that Concubine He still wanted to strive, but from now on, she would definitely lean towards the Queen's side.

"I just held Hong'er, and my heart was filled with joy. Later, Crown Princess, please bring the child to me more often."

This child had not been named yet, but just now, Emperor Chengde had given him the name Zhao Youhong, with the nickname Hong'er.

Lin Yingxue naturally agreed.

The Empress Dowager’s actions were noted by the palace concubines, who understood the implications. He Lan Ting felt a heavy weight in her heart and almost lost her smile.

He Lan Ting had spoken out of turn twice before, so this time, she didn't say much. She had so little now that she needed to cling to the Emperor’s love even more.

She couldn't continue targeting Zhao Jiaze; that would make her seem petty and unlikable, rather than cute and pitiable.

He Lanting adjusted her mood and smiled once more. The days ahead were still long; the Emperor's health was good, and there were still opportunities for her.

The Empress Dowager, seated in the main position, could clearly see everyone's expressions. She slipped off a string of green sandalwood prayer beads from her wrist and slowly fingered them.

·

After lunch at the Empress Dowager’s residence, Zhao Jiaze and Lin Yingxue visited the Empress at Luanfeng Palace in the afternoon.

"I’ll take Hong’er for his nap," Lin Yingxue said, taking her leave to allow the mother and son some private time. Besides, children need a lot of sleep to grow, so she took the child to rest first.

Jian Yunyao gestured for Zhao Jiaze to come closer. Once the attendants had left, she instructed Zhao Jiaze to remove his outer robe and loosen his inner garments, revealing the scar on his chest.

Jian Yunyao’s fingers traced the scar as she murmured, "It must have hurt a lot back then."

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Jiaze decided to refer to himself in the first person.

"Actually, I don’t remember. I was too young at the time to recall if it hurt."

The scar had always been a part of his memory, but as a child, he hadn’t found it unusual. It wasn’t until he grew older and understood the value of life that he realized how perilous his childhood had been.

"It’s probably for the best that you don’t remember," Jian Yunyao said softly. "With such a severe injury, did you experience any aftereffects? Does it hurt when it rains or is cloudy?"

Zhao Jiaze shook his head. "The physician my foster mother found for me was excellent."

Zhao Jiaze could put on a show for Emperor Chengde, but with Jian Yunyao, he knew the person before him felt both guilt and love for him.

Zhao Jiaze harbored complex feelings toward the Empress. He knew she loved him, but he found it difficult to reciprocate those feelings in such a short time.

Zhao Jiaze’s demeanor was somewhat restrained.

Noticing this, Jian Yunyao had no intention of forcing change. Watching him live was enough for her. Mentioning his foster mother, Jian Yunyao asked, "Did your foster mother come to the capital this time?"

"Yes, she did."

"Then I'll have her come to the palace later," Jian Yunyao said quickly as Zhao Jiaze looked up. "Rest assured, I'm grateful to her. I want to see her in person and thank her for what she has done for you."

Jian Yunyao held Zhao Jiaze's hand, her finger touching the wound. "After learning about your origins, you should know that the arrow in your chest was shot by me. I owe you an explanation. Without her, I wouldn't have had the chance to see you and make amends for what I did to you."

Zhao Jiaze held Jian Yunyao's hand in return, speaking in a low voice, "My life was given by you, Royal Mother. If it is to be taken back, then so be it. I was merely an innocent child back then, and my life was trivial compared to the fate of Great Qi. There’s no need to dwell on the past."

Zhao Jiaze's eyes were bright as he met Jian Yunyao's gaze. "I know you want to make up for it, and the position of Crown Prince is something you worked hard to obtain for me. That is enough."

Jian Yunyao smiled, her hand caressing Zhao Jiaze's cheek. "Had it not been for the Feng City incident, you would have been the Crown Prince already. I simply reclaimed what was rightfully yours. You call me Royal Mother, and as your mother, I will naturally scheme for your benefit."

Before meeting Zhao Jiaze, Jian Yunyao had been concerned that he might not wish to be Crown Prince. But as the son of the empress, born of the central palace, other princes might step down from the throne, but with his status, he could not withdraw from the battle for the throne. Otherwise, he would be devoured by others.

Seeing Zhao Jiaze, she was relieved to see her son content with the position of Crown Prince. He was ambitious and coveted that position.

Since that was the case, everything was perfect.

Jian Yunyao stroked Zhao Jiaze's face. Emperor Chengde had ruled for too long. Once her son acclimated to managing court affairs as Crown Prince, Emperor Chengde would no longer need to continue ruling.